Sharp County record., 1887-06-02
THE PRESS.
Annual Meeting Of the Arkansas
State Press Association.
synop,is of the Proceedings and General
Mention of the Doings of the Editors
Papers Read, Officers Elected
Entertainments Attended, Etc.

The Arkansas Press Association met in the
hall of the House Of Representatives, al LlUle
Rock on Wednesday the 4th inst, and was
called TO order by President ]. S. Thomas OF
Des Arc.
The proceedings were opened with prayer oy
Dr. A. R Winfield.
The roll was called and the followlng Ineln-
bers answered to their names: K. W. briggS
Judsonia; j. R. Belts, Little ROCK; Auam
Clark, Arkadelphia; c. c. ColDurn, ozarK' 1'
R. Gotham, Monticello; K. L. Emerson, Msgno-
lia;J. W. Gardner, Prescott; w. j. haIley
Berryville: j. R. Jobe, Searcy; R. W. Leigh
Morrillton; ]. R. Newman, Harrison' j. II.
Sbinn. Magnolia; ]. s. Thomas, Des Arc; j. l..
Tullis, Texarkana; W. A. weber, LlII4e num-
A. R. Winfield Little Rock.
The minutes of the proceedings OF the last
day of the meeting last year were read ana
adopted.
The president appointed the committee on
membership as follows: ]. R. Newman, j. w.
Gardner and ]. R. Gotham.
A Communication from Rev. ]. H. Dye was re-
ceiyed inviting members OF the ASSOCIATION 10
visit the Arkansas School for the Blind The
invitation was accepted.
A number of applications for membership
were received and referred to the committee on
membership.
The convention then took a recess OF ten min
utes to allow members TO pay their dues, ana 10
let the committee on membership act upon the
petitions.
Mr.JL Tullis, historian, was granted per
mission to file his report, so far as prepared
and he was given further time in which 10 CON-
plete the same.
A special election for treasurer was helu anu
| Mr. R. L. Emerson was chosen.
U1I,o On mo renOrtGQ
orably on the following applications for mem
bership: George Thornburgh j. A. Herald,
| Damon Clark G. W. Morgan, W. NJ. Dunbar
ger. j. o. A. Bush, ]. E. Bradley, ]. E. Spencer,
| R. B. Carl Lee, ]. A. Langford, M. Partridge,
]. Il. Belts and J. B. Sutter, and they were
elected to membership.
WIN. Kavanaugh was elected an honorary
| member of the association.
| AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order by Vice
| President ]. R. Belts, after which President
! j. S. Thomas delivered the following address:
BRETHERN OF THE ARKANSAS PRESS Asso-
| CIATIoN: The cycle Of time has again gath
cred in the labors Of the press.
| Fourteen annual meetings with their joys
and pleasures have passed, and now the time
| for the Fifteenth convention has arrived and we
| have met in the beautiful City OF Roses 10
| clasp the hand Of friendship, to renew our al
| leglanCe and 10 reQeulcalt OURSELVES w tA@s
| time-honored craft. For
THE love Of fame, how eer concealed by art
! Inspires each hope and glows in every hearI;
| Proud men TO gain il, toll on toll endure;
The modest shun it but to make it sure
And our purposes and aims can not be better
| expressed than by consulting portion OF our
| constitution: THE object Of this association
| shall be to promote the interests OF the press
by securing unity Of thought and action in all
| afatfy faf fha
| ism, and the business Of publishing, to elevate
its tone purify its expressions, enlarge It's USE
fulness, advance it in wisdom and justice, e1
| tend it's influence in the work OF true clVlllza-
| ton, and to cultivate friendly relations and
spirit Of fraternal regard among its mem
| bers"
From the above it will be seen that brethren
| should dwell together in unity. How well that
injunction has been performed Will be LETT 10
| each individual member to answer would DC
unfait,..-l to the craft were Inot to say that
I there has been marked improvements all along
| the line. Acquaintance and association has
produced wonderfully soothing eject. The
pickering and strife that at one time character-
| lied journalism has passed away. Could DICK
ems write again he would be forced to seek
other fields for satire; for the sacrinces
and the suferings OF the heroic men
who have served so well have not been
in vain, for journalism to-day is upon, a
| higher plane than ever before The funda-
| mental principles Of our constitution and Dy-
| laws should not be uncertain and liable 10 con-
| flicting miscOnstructions or unjust and mis-
| chievous application; each one should endeaV-
| or to construe them ari hit and not warp them
| TO suit each particular occasion. OFT and re-
| peated changes will bring them into disrepute
| let them be perfected but not ruthlessIy de-
! strOyed. There is an amendment pending that
| should be carefully considered, if we have
| done well would it not be advisable TO continue
| ain the beaten path"
| At this meeting the committee on the adop-
tion Of permanent badge will report thelr
| conclusions, and any suggestions made by them
should be carefully considered. AT our last meet
ing the organization Of the National Press AS
sociation was indorsed, and in doing SO 1t IS
| presumed that you desire representation IN the
| same. The president and secretary OF eacn
| State association are made members thereof
| by the constitution, and you are also entitled
| 70 one delegate for every twenty actual mem
bers or fractional part thereof. 1t is for You 10
say how the delegates shall be selected.
| The association through committee, pre-
| pared bill TO be submitted to the last Legis-
| lature In reference TO legal advertisements
The committee performed their duty; the bill
| was introduced; but where, oh! where is II
now? It's 'slumbering with its fathers Inc
| Legislature has pursued policy with news
papers worthy only Of the feudal ages OF dark
| ness and oppression. There was committee
appointed to prepare scale OF rates Tor ior.
| eign advertisements; am unable 10 say WnaI
| progress has been made, but presume they Will
present report. The matter is one OF vast
| Importance, and should be dealt with in spirit
| of fairness to the small country papers.
| From the mountains come the news that one
| Of the pioneers OF the press, ,one whom we loved
| SO well, Thomas Newman would no more meet
with his friends in their annual reunions. "
| was his pleasure and pride to be with US on such
occasions as this. Weary and worn out, he Is
| resting by the wayside, awaiting tne morn Oh
the resurrection. 1t would be appropriate for
| this association to present to his bereaved wife
| some token OF our esteem and affection, not
| only for the man, but for his faithful and untr-
| ing services displayed for more than half a
| century in the newspaper world.
In conclusion, permit me to say we have met
| in the interest Of journalism, and your time Tor
the next few days should be given TO the good
| OF the fraternity and by giving strict attention
| profitable session.
The different portions Of the address were re.
ferred to special committees to take action.
An invitation to visit the Deaf Mute Institute
was received and accepted.
On recommendation OF the committee on
membership the following persons were elect
ed honorary members: Miss B. B. Sterling, j.
w. Adams, G. s. Anderson and J. H. Gage.
The convention then adjourned to meet at
eight o'clock at Hyde's Opera-house.
NIGHT SESSION.
A large number Of visitors, as well as mem
bers Of the press, assembled at Hyde's opera
house at night where the address OF welcome
and the response, the grafton and the poem OF
the convention we're TO be delivered.
President Thomas called the meeting to or
der at half past eight and introduced Mayor w
G.. Whipple, who delivered a cordial address Of